Low-cost real-time motion capturing system using inertial measurement units

Human movement modeling - also referred to as motion-capture - is a rapidly expanding field of interest for medical rehabilitation, sports training, and entertainment. Motion capture devices are used to provide a virtual 3-dimensional reconstruction of human physical activities - employing either optical or inertial sensors. Utilizing inertial measurement units and digital signal processing techniques offers a better alternative in terms of portability and immunity to visual perturbations when compared to conventional optical solutions. In this paper, a cable-free, low-cost motion-capture solution based on inertial measurement units with a novel approach for calibration is proposed. The goal of the proposed solution is to apply motion capture to the fields that, because of cost problems, did not take enough benefit of such technology (e.g., fitness training centers). According to this goal, the necessary requirement for the proposed system is to be low-cost. Therefore, all the considerations and all the solutions provided in this work have been done according to this main requirement

Possibility and probability: application examples and comparison of two different approaches to uncertainty evaluation

This paper proposes two interesting applications of the approach to uncertainty evaluation and representation in terms of Random-Fuzzy Variables. One covers the expression of the calibration uncertainty of gauge blocks, and one considers unknown temperature variations, with respect to temperature at calibration time, in expressing a voltmeter uncertainty. Both considered examples show that the proposed approach is more effective than the traditional GUM approach

Central retinal vein occlusion associated with high blood levels of lipoprotein (a). Is lipoprotein (a) a reliable marker for identification of predisposed individuals?

AbstractTo report a case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) associated with abnormal elevation of Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] plasma levels, without local or systemic risk factors.A 74-year-old man was referred to our department for cataract surgery in his left eye, and his anamnesis was negative for systemic diseases. Two months later, the patient presented with sudden visual loss in his operated eye, and comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed, including Fluorescein Angiography (FA) and Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT). Serum concentrations of anticardiolipin and antiphospholipids antibodies, homocysteine and Lp(a) were measured.Ophthalmoscopy showed the classic features of acute CRVO, FA and OCT confirmed the initial diagnosis. Blood tests were negative for hyperhomocysteinemia, anticardiolipin and antiphospholipids antibodies, and an abnormal Lp(a) plasma concentration of 1.7g/L was found. The patient was sent to the internist for further investigation and treatment.Lp(a) can be an useful marker for early identification of predisposed individuals to CRVO and may be involved in its pathogenesis, presumably through its pro-atherogenic and antifibrinolytic action

combination of measurement uncertainty contributions via the generalized dombi operator

Possibility is considered as a promising mathematical tool to represent that particular case of incomplete information given by a measurement result. A measurement result can be affected by systematic and random effects. The combination of random contributions in the possibility theory returns only approximated results, and it is important to identify an optimal combination method to obtain acceptable uncertainty evaluations. This paper considers the generalized Dombi operator as a promising tool to obtain satisfying results

Analisi di settore: la birra

Indice: Introduzione - Analisi competitiva - Prospettive ambientali e tendenze competitiv